“A bold and mesmerising new perspective on one of gothic literature’s most enduring creations.”
How do you make a Dracula adaptation fresh in 2026, after more than 120 years of adaptations, retellings and reimaginings? Well, this is something that Norwegian company Plexus Polaire does in its thrilling, artistically mesmerising stage performance, Dracula: Lucy’s Dream, playing at the Pleasance EICC this Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Visually enthralling, technically challenging and masterfully performed, Plexus Polaire has crafted a theatrical tour de force.
This hypnotic reimagining of the Bram Stoker classic is adapted through the female lens of the vampiric Count’s first victim, Lucy Westenra. This artistic vision from Yngvild Aspeli sees Lucy seduced by Dracula and explores the nightmarish control that the vampire holds over her. Dreams, nightmares and reality blur into feverish visions, accentuating the unsettling beauty and intoxicating appeal of gothic horror.
Life-size puppetry, full-stage projections, haunting use of music (courtesy of Ane Marthe Sørlien Holen), costume, lighting and movement create a world that is visually compelling. The fusion of puppets and real performers creates a mesmerising combination of human bodies, otherworldly movement and visual unpredictability that makes Lucy’s Dream hard to look away from. The otherworldly being of Dracula gains a newfound horror when portrayed in this manner, with limbs showcasing an eerie elasticity, animal transformations from bats to dogs, and multiple performers portraying him to capture his enigmatic power.
The dream-like nature of Plexus Polaire’s production is crafted with kaleidoscopic projections, powerful use of mirrors and a set comprised of moving columns. This darkened dream world becomes a place for Dracula to hide in the shadows, whilst the bold red hair of Lucy stands out against the near-blackout nature of the setting. Like a dream, Lucy’s world becomes transient, flowing and unpredictable. This nightmarish quality is heightened by the use of multiple actors playing the role, often on stage at the same time. The duplicity and slightly off-kilter mirroring further heighten the fascinating visual punch of the piece.
The use of blood-red strings and fabrics also creates a thrilling visual motif, with blood trickling and spurting throughout the piece.
Through this fusion of visual spectacle, compelling movement and enigmatic music, Dracula: Lucy’s Dream presents bold observations on the eroticism at the heart of the vampire myth, intertwining this with themes of obsession, danger and addiction. The stakes feel high throughout this production, with moments of genuine horror and chaos thrown into Lucy’s struggles, as seen when her family attempt to subdue her during a feverish meltdown. Paired with moments of seductive eroticism, this captures the enduring appeal and deadly charm of the vampire myth.
There is something genuinely intoxicating about Dracula: Lucy’s Dream. Rather than simply retelling Stoker’s story, Plexus Polaire creates a feverish theatrical experience that feels more like stepping inside a nightmare. Its extraordinary puppetry, inventive physicality and striking visual design make this a production that demands to be seen, offering a bold and mesmerising new perspective on one of gothic literature’s most enduring creations.
Dracula: Lucy’s Dream runs at the Pleasance EICC until August 29. Tickets are available here.
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